It's a matter of hours before I go evangelizing tomorrow. I've always had my reservations about this because of my seemingly unsuccessful mission where I've shared my faith, my heart and my story to someone but they did not accept Christ at that moment. Of course, most I never see again. It usual tends in a debate or just indifference to the gospel.
We were given tools today and we practised using them. Thank you for the downloads and I pray that you will speak through me tomorrow. But maybe that's the problem: people don't want you. Maybe they are like that ex-satanist who was so controlled by demons that there was only three seconds of herself. Maybe that is the darkness - being blinded to the truth and just having a moment to cry "Lord, help me!" before being sucked under until the next time (if it comes).
The tools we were given don't work. That's the truth. It is God who works through these tools. I pray that I would have the opportunity to rejoice because I was there when God saved a soul. Until then I'll just speak and live. I haven't been doing it much but help me to do it more.
(...the next day...)
I just came back from evangelism in Tunapuna. The fresh scent of Dove Men + Care + Degree Men permeates my space as the sounds continue. There's something about products made for men by companies who made things for women (like Dewalt tools are superior). Anyways, it's all macho and stuff but not offensive and somehow keeps my skin clean - that's what I'm with: not smelling like an animal with long fur whi pees on itself.
On a much more serious note though, I encountered the darkness today. Somehow I expected a bog debate, maybe even an altercation; anything to make an exciting story. The problem with such an expectation is that when it happens it can be really dangerous for the person, both physically and spiritually. But God gives us what we need.
I don't want to go deep into the fact that no one on my time talked to anyone who accepted Jesus as their saviour at that moment because I recognize that no man comes to the Father except the Father draws him (John 6:44), snatches him from death's road. So I count it a privilege when someone comes to Christ "by my leading". I thank God that some people came to Christ as other teams spoke with them.
We met a few interesting people during our time on the streets. People like James*, who David thinks is a conman, and who I think David judged correctly. People like Shakira, who stayed behind to listen to listen to us even though her friends were calling her to leave. I pray that in the same way she would turn to you, stay behind and follow you. People like Esther and Ruth, who follow you and rely on you to see them through.
Very interestingly, we were talking to a guy named Christopher, an Indian vendor who has a relationship with God but didn't go to church. As we were talking to him, David advised me to jusray for him, so we did. He prayed that God would increase his business, among other things, and as he was praying a lady walked up to the stall. Chris stopped her out of respect and when we were finished, attended to her. Within 10 minutes the stall was empty!
If it wasn't for David pointing it out I would have probably missed everything. God just works! There were no tears, no recommittments, no sinners prayers. We asked God and he came through. After sharing with some kids we went back to Chris and pointed out to him what God did.
Love was seen in the little children wa
King home from school. The camera caught the eye of some school children so they stopped and were talking with Diego, Carly and Adrian. I mentioned to Diego that I had the wordless book in my back pocket so he allowed me to share. I said, "I'm going to share a story from a wordless book." and every child's eyes popped out and some looked at each other like "this guy is crazy!". I began, "this colour is green and it represents the world". I explained how God made the world and how he made us and had a wonderful relationship with us. I went to the point of sin and they jumped in with "like lying?" and "like teefin?" and each has his/her own example. We shared how the blood of Jesus takes away our sin and makes our heart clean as he forgives us. At this point, only I was speaking and all of the kids' eyes were locked on me. After that I went to gold and how the streets of heaven are made of gold. I asked them to look around at the street they walked on and imagine it as pure gold, like glass. Oh they were awestruck!
Then they started to ask questions about heaven and how can we not be on earth and still see. So we explained that our bodies are shells, like astronaut suits and our souls are eternal so in heaven, we will see Jesus and all the ones who love him and accepted his salvation (well not exactly in those words). Then we prayed for them and sent them home.
I thank God for everyone we met onthe streets - the Hindu girl, Sprocket, Boy, the sweeper who thinks all churches and church people are selfish and judgmental, and the four boys who knew God but never shared him. It is said that the average number of encounters a Muslim had in a certain jail had before being a Christian was 21. Let's put that as 25 for the Caribbean, for arguments sake. Maybe we were number 20, maybe we were number 12 or maybe I am number 4. In any case,to God be the glory! And hopefully another man (or woman) was born today.
